New Year's Resolutions

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions. I've made them in the past and haven't kept them so it is easier to remain resolution free. However, I think we can all make certain choices that could be considered resolutions.

I can resolve to choose the high road instead of going down to a lower level and taking a cheap shot at someone else's expense.

I can resolve to look for positives in negative situations.

I can count the things I have instead of tallying up all the have-nots.

I can remember that life is too short to sweat the small stuff. After all, in the long run what do I want my memories to be?

I can look for opportunities to pay it forward. Pay for the person behind me at the drive-through window, pick up an item that has fallen on the floor in the grocery store, wave to the mail carrier when he drops off my mail.

I can think about others instead of myself. There are always two sides to every argument and maybe I'm on the wrong side.

I can resolve to help people who may just be having a rough day...open a door, offer a smile, be less critical.

I can work harder, give more effort, ignore the petty stuff and strive to be a better employee.

I'm sure you can come up with some great ideas for you. Why not start out 2009 in the plus column? Resolve to change if you tend to focus on the negative and adjust your behavior. Get some good karma going and see what happens. It may just surprise you.

Conversation With a Chihuahua

"C'mon, Rosey, let's go outside."

"Yay! We're going outside! Yippee!"

(Door opens)

"Let's go."

"Yay!" (jumping up and down)

(Reaches door)

"Um...it's kinda cold out there."

"Outside. Let's go."

"You didn't tell me it was going to be cold. I think I can hold it until later."

"Outside! Let's go!"

"No thank you very much. I don't need to go."

"You're going! Outside!"

"Really. I think I can hold it. I went this morning."

"You know I'm bigger than you. Outside...now!"

(shivering, shaking, quivering) "Really! I don't need to go!" (thinks to herself, 'I'll just go on the carpet later when they're not looking')

"C'mon. You're going. I don't want you going on the floor later."

(wonders, 'How does she DO that?') "But it's COLD out there! I might freeze!"

"You're a dog. You've got fur. Let's go!"

"How can I convince you? I DON'T need to go!"

(picks up Rosey) "I told you I'm bigger than you." (Sets dog down on step) "Go potty."

"Umm...MAYBE I can go. Give me a few minutes to think about it."

"C'mon. Go. It's cold out here."

(thinks to herself, 'Heh, heh, heh. TWO can play at this game!')

What's In Your...?

You know that ad campaign that asks "What's In Your Wallet?" It would be fun to randomly pick a "What's In Your...(fill in the blank)?" How about "What's In Your Glove Compartment?" or "What's In Your Front Closet?" Perhaps "What's In Your Bank Account?" or the ever-popular "What's In Your Junk Drawer?" I'm sure some of the answers would surprise you. It's time to start a de-clutter campaign in our household. We tend to hang onto things "just in case" and they multiply when we're not looking. Never, never turn your back on a junk drawer!

Random Christmas Memories

• Nylon "stockings" hanging from a folding clothes dryer


• New pj's and a bathrobe to wear on Christmas morning


• Mom's divinity failures eaten from the pan with a spoon


• The tree in the playpen the year our toddler would not stay away from the ornaments


• Search and finds to locate the hidden special gift


• Banana popsicle for breakfast one year


• Singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to wake up our parents


• Eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve


• Opening one gift on Christmas Eve (usually those pj's and bathrobe)


• Making goody bags for the children attending Christmas Eve worship services


• The movie marathon Christmas to see three movies at the theater


• Playing games, eating munchies, taking naps, examining our "loot"


• Writing the obligatory thank you to Grandma


• The first book I ever owned, from my cousin Sandi who drew my name


• Doing extra chores for $5 to buy Christmas gifts for my family from Grand Central


• The California Christmas trip with us all squished into my sister's 1-bedroom apartment


• And always laughter, smiles, happiness, love

Preserving "Memories"

Describing a gift found under our tree on Christmas morning: Wrapped in festive wrap, a shirt box-size gift that rattled when shaken. Now I have to point out that we have two small dogs who were not the slightest bit interested in this gift while it was under the tree - suspicious. On opening the gift, we did indeed find a shirt box that contained an assortment of...yep, you guessed it...STALE COOKIES! Oh the horror! Oh the delight! We can DO something with these treasures. We can take pictures. We can act totally inappropriate. And then we can PRESERVE them to re-gift next year. Spray shellac, anyone? These treasures will be gifted to the family members missing from the festivities this Christmas. (You know who you are)